ABC 7 news back on top in July

Cheryl Burton, Ron Magers and Kathy Brock

Cheryl Burton, Ron Magers and Kathy Brock

Longtime market leader ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 was back on top of the late-news ratings in July after NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 won the key adult demographics by a slender margin in May.

Nielsen numbers obtained through independent sources Thursday initially showed ABC 7 ahead at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. weekdays in overall households and among viewers between 25 and 54 — the prized demo for advertisers. Figures later provided by NBC 5, however, showed the 10 p.m. race was a tie for first place in the adult demo. Continue reading

WLS FM gets new program director

Brian Thomas

Brian Thomas

Cumulus Media is dispatching a seasoned corporate program executive from New York to become the new program director of WLS FM 94.7.

Brian Thomas starts August 1 as program director of the classic hits station here, according to an internal announcement Monday by Peter Bowen, vice president and Chicago market manager of Cumulus Media. Continue reading

Legendary DJ Landecker quits WLS FM

John Records Landecker

John Records Landecker

John Records Landecker, one of Chicago radio’s most celebrated disc jockeys, is calling it quits. His last show as evening host on Cumulus Media classic hits WLS FM 94.7 will be Friday.

Landecker, 68, who’s been working without a contract since he started in January 2012, said the decision to leave was entirely his own. Continue reading

Chicago’s ‘fun couple’ ties the knot

Natalie Bomke and Ed Zwiderski

Natalie Bomke and Ed Zwiderski

Wedding bells rang high atop Chicago Saturday night for Natalie Bomke, weekend news anchor at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32, and Ed Swiderski, a former contestant on ABC’s “The Bachelorette.”

The two were married in an outdoor civil ceremony amid the flying buttresses of Tribune Tower's 25th floor in the private rooftop veranda known as The Crown. The reception was held at Howells & Hood, the restaurant on the building’s ground floor. Continue reading